Ghost Guardians

By S. Peters Davis

Bri’s intent was to work for her father, but ghosts, an old high school sweetheart, a downtrodden best bud, and a deceitful tormenter play havoc with her future.

Kyle broke it off with Bri before college, but realizes he still harbors unrequited feelings for her. Then he discovers Bri’s ability and wants to keep her close, not just for himself, but as an asset for Spectral Paranormal Investigations.

Ghosts rely on Bri, Kyle confuses her, the best bud requires stability, and the bully deserves a punch in the face until they join forces in a mission to rescue the paranormal—those spirits left behind. Murder, mystery, and mayhem abound...in ghost-form!?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780228614913

Book preview

Ghosts Guardians

Ghost Guardians Series, Book 1

By S. Peters-Davis

Digital ISBNs

EPUB 978-0-2286-1491-3

Kindle 978-0-2286-1492-0

PDF 978-0-2286-1493-7

Print ISBNs

Amazon Print 978-0-2286-1494-4

LSI Print 978-0-2286-1495-1

B&N Print 978-0-2286-1496-8

Copyright 2020 by S. Peters-Davis

Cover art by Michelle Lee

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

Author Note: Ghosts Guardians is a New Adult, stand-alone novel of fiction, and a revision of the young adult novel Secret: At HL Woods (written initially under my pseudonym, DK Davis). All of the characters, organizations, locations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. **Mature subject matter and sensual scenes.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank Sharon Willett, my beta reader and editor, for taking time to polish and shine my work. Your eagle-eye strikes again:)

Thank you, Jude Pittman, for your support and guidance, and thank you, Michelle Lee, for your picture-perfect creative cover.

Dedication

To all of those who love a ghost story with a little sugar on top.

Chapter One

What the—? Ugh! Air exploded out of my lungs as I face-planted in musty dirt and leaves. A little fur-ball chipmunk had scurried across my path and should be a smear on the bottom of my tennis shoe, but instead, I’d dove over it. Air wheezed back into my body on gulps of mortification.

Dang. Bri Lancaster. Goth clouds herself. Max Hamlin, my worst nightmare for a couple of months during my senior high school days and that summer before college. I would recognize that voice anywhere.

No, no, no. Don’t look. Do not raise your head. I did, coughing and sputtering dirt from my mouth.

Kyle Benton, the guy that lived next door and had owned my heart, ran full bore toward me. He and I had something deep between us until he left for an out-of-state college. Max had left with him.

Max struck a pose, laughing. A deranged hyena came to mind. What in the heck were those two doing this far into the woods? They’d never been in this area of the forest when I’d been jogging here.

Are you hurt? Kyle kneeled next to me and extended a hand.

I got to my feet on my own, brushing dirt from my face and the front of my T-shirt. I’m fine. I glared at Max, who was still a distance away, laughing his butt off. Real mature, Maxwell.

Max. It’s not that funny. Kyle’s ice-blue gaze met mine, goosebumps scattered like wildfire up my arms, leaving me a little stunned. Sure, you’re all right? That was quite a tumble. Well, more like a crash and burn.

Stop staring at him and respond. A slap on my shoulder shoved me into Kyle. Somehow, Kyle righted both of us by wrapping an arm around my waist and leaning into a tree trunk. His warmth merged into my body, forcing a tremble.

Get a grip, Goth-girl. He’s not into you. Max jerked me away from Kyle and completed my humiliation. Kissing the dirt made a perfect SnapChat expose. He flashed me the picture on his phone like a teenager might do. Look at that spiky hair. Where’s the eyebrow stud? He blinked his eyes and grinned, most likely for effect.

The eyebrow stud went to the wayside after I started college four years ago, although I still dressed goth-like sometimes, just to keep certain people away. My hands curled into fists with a deepening urge to punch Max’s face. My hair wasn’t spiky, just short but not that short, and how he got his phone to grab a close up of me on the ground was beyond me. He hasn’t changed.

My grandfather’s words rifled through my head, Don’t hate the haters, it’s normally a traumatic experience that created their outlook, or exterior programming from parents that went through the trauma. Not their fault. Well, I didn’t see anything but red whenever I looked at Max’s smug face.

Nice to see you again, Kyle. And with that, I jogged away from them toward the mound of wild rose vines and thistles, where Kyle and Max had stood moments ago.

A black man and white woman shimmered into view beside it, arms around each other, both staring at me.

I stopped so abruptly I almost lost it again. Apparitions. My gift or curse since childhood, I see ghosts. Surprise struck me first at not seeing them before now as I’d jogged close to this area for months before I left for college, and it appeared they’d been here long before that.

Martin, look at her. She’s seein’ us. The woman’s distinct southern accent caught me, but what set off my cursed paranormal spidey-sensors was their clothing…straight from the ’60s, according to some of the old romance books I’d read from Mom’s stash.

By damn, she does see us. He stepped closer to me with the woman at his side. You can see us.

I can, yes. Holy crap, I just said that out loud. My whole body tensed. I glanced over my shoulder to see if Kyle and Max still roamed face-plant alley. A shiver shook through me. They’d left.

We need your help, Missy. Martin arched his brows, tilting his head. Please tell us you can help us.

The woman turned to him and patted his cheek. It’s gonna be all right, sweetie. We ain’t botherin’ this fine woman with our problems. She turned to me. It’s okay, darlin’, you never mind us.

Why are you both here? Wherever I saw spirits of the dead, it usually meant they had connected to something in the area. I considered the mound, and on a closer look, seeing something metal and rusty underneath all the greenery. You should have crossed over into the vortex of light…unless you’re meant to go to the dark plane.

The woman gasped and clung to Martin.

Maybe I’d said too much. I yanked some of the vines away, getting scratched and poked from the effort.

A car, green and ancient, no wonder no one had spotted it.

We want justice, but we aren’t able to leave this spot. Something’s holding us here, like some kind of barrier. Martin’s lips pinched together, his head nodding. He looked at the woman as if for confirmation. She nodded also.

I scanned the area thoroughly to make sure Kyle and Max weren’t lurking behind a tree to get a shot of me talking to air. I’d dealt with Max enough in the past. His nasty pranks didn’t need to scar the rest of my life. What a bullying child!

Thankfully, they’d really left.

You fancyin’ one of those boys? The woman smiled.

Gloria, now don’t you be puttin’ on with this little lady. She won’t want to share her life with the likes of us. Martin embraced Gloria, kissing her forehead.

I chuckled at the idea of considering either Kyle or Max as anything more than what? Guys I’d known and left behind? No one knew me here, and I liked it that way. Moving from Marshall before the end of my senior year in high school had been the worst thing to happen in my life, well besides Dad leaving once we’d settled into the house here. Plus, Luke had lived in Marshall, and he still did. Thank the gods he also attended the same college. We shared a lot in common, mostly by being uncommon nerds.

I shook my head in response to Gloria’s question. No. Those guys aren’t into me, and I’m definitely not into them.

Martin and Gloria’s eyes narrowed, and a frown creased both of their foreheads.

Whatcha mean? Into me…into them…like friends or somethin’ more? Gloria asked, and I could tell Martin didn’t understand it either. I was sure the music back then used words like those about relationships, although, maybe it’d been a while since they heard music.

I don’t like them, and they don’t like me. I studied the couple. How old are you guys? What’s your story? Didn’t want to ask them what year they died…or how they died, in case they hadn’t acknowledged it to each other. That sometimes happened, like the time I’d come across a spirit that didn’t realize he was dead. He went into hysteria, ranting, and raving, jumping from one extreme emotion to another. That lasted for days as his apparition faded then came back, disappearing and reappearing all over the house and property.

Eighteen, both of us, we just graduated high school. Martin’s lips pressed together. A truck followed us, and we didn’t notice it at first.

We was drivin’ to Idlewild, a city in northern Michigan, for work and a place to live. Gettin’ married there, Gloria added. She turned toward Martin, and suddenly their apparitions washed-out like bad static on a television. An electric pop snapped through the air, and they vanished.

A vibration rumbled against my sternum from the cool smoky quartz crystal I wore on a chain around my neck. Hmmm…that’s weird. Gramps had given me the necklace after Gram passed, mentioning it protected her from dark energy. I didn’t understand what that meant back then and still didn’t.

I yanked more of the vines from the car. The front end got smashed in, and so did the roof as if a tree had fallen on it. There wasn’t a license plate to tell me what state Martin and Gloria had originated.

Wow. Kyle came from behind me. Max wasn’t with him. You found the mystery car under all that foliage. He walked around it and whistled. A 1961 Oldsmobile Cutlass Coupe…two-door. He whistled again. I’d heard tales about an old vehicle. That’s why Max and I were here earlier, looking for it.

How did you know the model? I didn’t want to think about what Kyle might have heard from the conversation I just had with Martin and Gloria.

My dad’s hobby is restoring old cars, and he specifically has a thing for Oldsmobile. He peered inside it. The seats got totaled, pretty much nothing but springs is all. Holes rusted through the floor, and no glass inside or outside. Unusual. Well, maybe not. This thing must have sat here for decades. I mean, the car’s fifty-nine years old.

It had been here a long time, especially after seeing the clothing Martin and Gloria wore.

Kyle strolled over to me and picked something out of my hair. His action sent electrified zaps streaming through every nerve, warming my insides and sending a shiver down my spine. I didn’t want to feel anything. It had taken too long to get over him the first time when he’d left for college.

He showed me the little stick from my hair before he tossed it. "Sorry about earlier. Something’s going on with Max. Not sure what exactly, but he is a good guy."

Really. With friends like that who needs enemies, that’s what comes to my mind when I think of Max. A cliché. And believe me, I’d rather not think of him at all. I turned to walk away, but Kyle grabbed my arm, sending another wave of warmth and chills through my system.

Honestly, it isn’t like Max. He doesn’t treat people like he treated you.

I jerked my arm out of Kyle’s grasp. Perhaps he was no different from Max as much as they must hang around together. Look, I don’t like him, and no matter what you say in his defense, it’s not going to change my mind. He’s a total bully, the worst, and I’ve met a few of his kind in the different places I’ve lived. Hell, even in college. I whipped around to get on with my run.

Where are you going?

Without glancing back, I shot, Home.

* * *

Behind the garage was a small private area I went whenever I wanted to be alone, like now. I slid into a folding chair and took in the lake view. It soothed the soul, as the saying goes. Luke would love it, and probably why I favored this place over any room inside the house. A few mini-cyclones of mist spiraled upward over the water and disappeared as sunlight struck through the last morning shady spots.

Sadness. My throat tightened, and the back of my eyes burned, followed by overwhelming exhaustion. An empathic side-effect triggered by Martin and Gloria. The familiar feeling sometimes got tough to shake.

Is this a good time? Kyle leaned against the corner of the garage. His ice-blues turned a little smoky.

Why? Is it your turn to take the picture and share it with the world? You and Max got a dare going on? Or is your shadow hiding around the corner? I didn’t trust Max but thought Kyle was different, in a good way, but his defending Max had thrown me. Perhaps the whole Max-thing was about standing up for their bro-ship. I would do the same for my long-time best friend, Luke, living as a gay boy in a straight family that defied everything about him, and kids at high school had been rough. College went better, but Luke had no one that understood him more than me, and no one understood me but him.

It’s not like that. He let out a big sigh. Honestly, if you would have tried a little harder your senior year to be social…friendly, you’d have a few friends. He shook his head.

The urge to slap him overwhelmed me.

Yea, you started a new school, but you never joined any sports or clubs. Now, you’ve gone through four years of college, and I’m guessing you’re living at home until you get a job and can pay for a place. So, did you socialize in college, join any clubs?

Are you lecturing me? I sprang out of the chair and stepped to the front of him, toe to toe, his back against the brick wall. Because it almost sounds like you’re telling me it’s my fault that Max is treating me like crap. My whole body trembled as I fisted both hands. What in the heck? Did I plan to beat on him?

His eyes sparked then narrowed. He just stood there staring at me with those half-closed stormy-blues, saying nothing.

You gonna kiss him or what? Gloria and Martin stood beside us. How and the heck did they manage to follow me? Go on, get it done.

We both know you want to, and I can safely say he wants to, Martin added. He’s practically licking his lips with anticipation. He and Gloria giggled.

Kyle’s arms slid around my waist as if he acknowledged Martin’s directives. His body meshed into mine.

Oh gods, not happening! I shoved my fists against his chest, so he pressed into the bricks, and then I broke out from the solid web of his arms. My brain fogged, and my smoky crystal vibrated against my sternum…again. What are you doing? My words came out more like a pant than a yell. How did that work for me? Not.

Kyle smiled, a slow stretch of his full lips, and his silence pierced my ears. Maybe this look was his smolder.

My body adored it, like it had a mind of its own, creating a hyper-drum beating against my ribcage. I understood how it would work to melt frozen hearts. Mine turned into a lava tsunami, a sure sign I’d never gotten over my feelings for him.

Bri, I’m sorry if I came off as inappropriate. I’m not so good at relationships.

Right, like I’m supposed to believe that. I rolled my eyes, a reactive habit. I’d gotten a lot of practice with my family.

His frown afterward got me thinking about him without Max. Kyle had been the most popular boy in high school, but then he had gotten jilted by Jilly, his long-time girlfriend. She’d gushed over going with another guy behind Kyle’s back. I probably played the role of Kyle’s rebound.

Martin and Gloria watched us with wide-eyes and smiles as if enthralled watching a movie. I worked hard to keep from glancing at them, afraid I would say something out loud. Then that whole talking to air thing would start with Kyle and spread like a plague if Max caught a breath of it.

I thought since we lived next to each other, maybe we still could be friends. Kyle bit the side of his cheek. I remembered he did that often at school whenever teachers called on him. You jog, I jog. Maybe we could do it together. For me, it helps to have a partner to keep me accountable. He looked at the ground. Maybe you don’t need anyone for that…but I do.

What about Max? I sensed that his sudden interest in me was a set-up for some kind of prank or a Max and Kyle dare-competition. Once the girlfriend was out of the picture, Max shadowed Kyle like a puppy.

Max doesn’t jog, or hike, or even bicycle.

Good grief, girl, tell him you’ll do it. Gloria interrupted and grinned.

We want to share what happened. Can you take a minute to talk to us? Martin’s question needed an answer.

A little privacy would be nice right now. That whipped as if every thought in my head just collapsed. Kyle’s breath sucked in, and he bit his cheek again. I only wanted Gloria and Martin to step back, give me a moment.

Okay. I see. Kyle moved to the corner, ready to walk away when he stopped, and without looking at me, he said, Think about it, or not…I jog in the morning at seven, if you want to, join me. Then he left.

The whole thing with Kyle churned my insides like a blender, or maybe that was the crystal’s vibration. I pulled my necklace out of my T-shirt, grasping the stone. It trembled like a gentle pulse.

Oh, my Gods, look at her necklace. Gloria’s eyes widened as she stared at my smoky quartz crystal. Martin’s mouth opened and closed as if he was about to say something, instead he studied my face.

What? They kept something from me, like a dark secret.

Gloria’s fingers fumbled along the neckline of her blouse until she drew a silver chain out, and dangling from it, another smoky quartz crystal pendant. Twin crystals?

Where did you get that? I moved closer to compare. What were the chances of an exact match with two crystals, having all-natural points the same?

A woman gave it to me right after Martin asked me to marry him. She was sitting close to us in the park and admitted she heard Martin’s marriage proposal, and also our discussion about the racial hate between our families. She suggested we move to Idlewild, Michigan. Said there’d be plenty of jobs and places to live, and we’d be accepted. Gloria looked at Martin then toward me. She told me the crystal would protect and guide us.

"Didn’t do such